Joy V. Smith

Learn more about Detour Trail on Pinterest

Pagadan — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:37:38 +0000

I continue to add wolves, horses, and western background to my Western Style board on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/joyvsmith/western-style/

Check out ‘Stagecoach’ Mary Fields and other photos illustrating life on the frontier.

The western novel (a course)

Pagadan — Sat, 04 May 2013 05:01:54 +0000

A friend sent me this link to a western novel syllabus: http://shenandoahliterary.org/snopes/

It’s very interesting–and challenging. But for anyone interested in the background of western novels, this is a great introduction to tackle on your own.

(Thanks, Vin)

Writing notes, tips, and links

Pagadan — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:34:53 +0000

Five Tips to Create Publicity for Your Book – The Savvy Book Marketer : http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/book_marketing_maven/2010/12/create-publicity-for-your-book.html

From: THE WRITE STUFF Writing News for the Sunshine State & the Solar System

The Caddo tribe (of eastern Texas) gave us the word for Texas (“friend”). On the Texas page, you can track the words of the Apaches, Comanches, the Wichita tribes, and others: http://www.native-languages.org/texas.htm

Break the rules to become a best-seller

Rob Eager, author consultant and founder of Wildfire Marketing, says the old rules for successful authors no longer work. Instead, he has come up with five successful marketing strategies, including “Created a free resource that was featured for 21 days on more than 350 radio stations.”

http://www.livewritethrive.com/2013/04/15/break-the-rules-to-become-a-best-seller/

And read the comments.

Stylebook update:

Debra Saunders notes that the Associated Press has changed its stylebook to reject the term “illegal immigrant.” She says: “Make no mistake about this decision. Whatever prompted the change, its practical effect is to delegitimize those who have called for tougher enforcement of U.S. immigration law.” News media are using the term “undocumented immigrants” instead.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/04/09/from_the_ap_stylebook_how_to_obscure_117867.html

Z is for zig AND zag

Pagadan — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:56:22 +0000

Zig and zag is what Lorrie did in Detour Trail as she made her way back and forth along the trails…

Y is for yoke

Pagadan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:04:46 +0000

Yoke has multiple meanings, including being part of a dress, but since I’m focusing on western terms and Detour Trail, I’m thinking about oxen and yokes. Lorrie started out with four oxen–to pull the big covered wagon–and her horses, including a team for the small wagon.

X marks the spot

Pagadan — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 05:43:56 +0000

It works for me! ‘Course Lorrie didn’t have an X to head for in Detour Trail; she had to–oops. That letter’s upoming, and it’ll be the last one. It’s been fun discovering themes and words. Thanks to all who made this a fun trip.

W is for wolf

Pagadan — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:16:15 +0000

Naturally–because of Gray Cloud’s importance in Detour Trail. Btw, I have wolf photos, among others, to furnish background for the west and Detour Trail, on my Western Style board on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/joyvsmith/

V is for venture

Pagadan — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:24:42 +0000

Venture: 1) “A risky or dangerous undertaking…” Oh, yes. Just think about all those who ventured away from their safe, snuggly-built homes where they were surrounded by friends and family, general stores, ….

Note: “[Aphetic for ... adventure..."]. I had to look up aphetic: “loss of a short unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word, a form of apheresis,” which is: “the dropping of a letter, syllable, or phoneme at the beginning of a word…”

So, now I have to look up phoneme: “a set of phonetically similar but slightly different sounds …” It’s more complicated than that!

Talk about a detour!

U is for unarmed

Pagadan — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:14:19 +0000

Lorrie is rarely unarmed. Just because you don’t see a weapon doesn’t mean there’s not one lurking in the brush…

T is for Team

Pagadan — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:18:22 +0000

There are horse and oxen teams in Detour Trail, and there is teamwork–both along the trail and when the settlers begin to build their new community: Sugar Valley.